5 league champions who were relegated the very next season

#2 Manchester City - English First Division

Manchester City’s first ever league title in the first division came in the 1936/37 season. What made the victory even sweeter was the fact that their arch-rivals Manchester United were relegated after finishing second to last in the table after 42 games.

Although City started the season with a loss to Middlesbrough, they lost only 7 games that season and ended with a strong run of 22 games without defeat which included 15 wins. Four players reached double figures for goals in the league – forwards Peter Doherty (30), Eric Brook (20), Alec Herd and Fred Tilson (15 goals each).

City’s home form was identical to second-placed Charlton Athletic (15 wins and 5 draws – 2 points per win), but their away record was marginally better and they took the title home with a 3-point lead after 42 matches in spite of an abandoned game midway through the season.

But the very next season, their weak defence saw them lose 20 out of the 42 games as they finished in 21st place, above West Bromwich Albion only on goal difference. Surprisingly, they were the team that scored the most goals that season but still couldn’t survive the drop.

City had the second-worst defensive record, conceding 77 goals in the season. Even teams above them who had a negative goal difference managed to score more points.

1936/37 - English First Division

#	TEAM	PLD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1	Man City	42	22	13	7	107	61	46	57
2	Charlton	42	21	12	9	58	49	9	54
3	Arsenal	42	18	16	8	80	49	31	52

1937/38 - English First Division

#	TEAM	PLD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1	Arsenal	42	21	10	11	77	44	33	52
2	Wolverhampton	42	20	11	11	72	49	23	51
21	Man City	42	14	8	20	80	77	3	36